Folklore & Fiction

This episode of the Folklore & Fiction podcast was first published as a newsletter in April 2019. I'm recording it as a supplemental podcast now so that new listeners and subscribers have an opportunity to engage with the material. In it, I'll be introducing the memorate genre with help from scholars Carl W. von Sydow, Lauri Honko, Diane Goldstein, and others, helping you analyse a memorate, and discussing ways to bring memorates to your story craft. (Companion Dispatch: https://csmaccath.com/blog/what-memorate)

Fe, fi, fo, fum! A clever young heroine outwits a giant to save the lives of her sisters and returns to his house on behalf of a king to steal a sword, a bag of gold, and a ring. Join me for a discussion of violence and sanitization in fairy tales, and come away with suggestions for writing multilingual characters. (Companion Dispatch: https://csmaccath.com/blog/mollywhuppie)

This episode of the Folklore & Fiction podcast was first published as a newsletter in March 2019. In it, I'll be introducing the legend genre with help from scholars Linda Dégh and others, contributions from the Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore Archive, and a wee chunk of fiction by Patrick Rothfuss. (Companion Dispatch: https://csmaccath.com/blog/what-legend)

A young widow of invincible courage helps the ghost of a murdered man find peace. Join me for a tale about Margaret Barnekow - a larger-than-life Swedish matriarch - and come away with writing exercises geared toward teachers of middle school students. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/the-specter-in-fjelkinge)

This episode of the Folklore & Fiction podcast was first published as a newsletter in February 2019. In it, I'll be discussing the myth genre with help from scholars Alan Dundes, William Bascom, and others, helping you analyse a myth, and discussing ways to bring myth to your story craft. (Companion Dispatch: https://csmaccath.com/blog/what-is-a-myth)

A king with an embarrassing secret forces his barber to keep it on penalty of the man's life, but the reeds and trees themselves sing out on the barber's behalf. Join me for a discussion of absolute power, and come away with a better understanding of theme in storytelling. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/the-king-with-the-horses-ears)

This episode of the Folklore & Fiction podcast was first published as a newsletter in January 2019. In it, I'll be introducing you to folklore genres with help from scholars Alan Dundes and others, discussing how the concept of genre can be both helpful and problematic, detailing a few ways to classify genres, and showing you how to use this information as a storyteller. (Companion Dispatch: https://csmaccath.com/blog/introduction-folklore-genres)

A maiden takes a lover and nearly hangs for it until her beloved offers everything he has in exchange for her life. Join me for a discussion of transgressive sexuality in an old, well-loved English ballad, and come away with recommendations for adapting ballads yourself. (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/maid-freed-gallows)

An ugly princess mocked by the kingdom makes a fraught deal with the merfolk for a belt and necklace that will turn her into a legendary beauty. Join me for an exploration of the little known tale of magic behind my forthcoming podcast radio play titled "The Belt and the Necklace." (Companion Dispatch: http://csmaccath.com/blog/winter-solstice-dispatch-2021)

A brother and sister transformed by a wicked stepmother. A knightly father who comes to their rescue. A brutal punishment by fire. Join me for a discussion of women and power in tales of magic, and come away with a hoard of folkloric storytelling prompts. (Companion Dispatch: https://csmaccath.com/blog/atu-450-little-brother-and-little-sister) Of note, friend of the show Peter Chiykowski is offering The Story Engine Deck, mentioned in this month's episode, to listeners at a 10% discount. Follow this link to learn more: https://storyenginedeck.myshopify.com/discount/FOLKLORE10